Between late April and October 3, a small but mighty crew of two individuals at a time, tackled Highway 93 from Reserve Drive to Highway 40, portions of the bypass, and Foy’s Bend. Over the course of the season, they collected 13,020 pounds of litter from the roadside.
That number represents a significant drop from the 27,200 pounds gathered last summer, a reduction of roughly 14,000 pounds. The difference is more than just statistical; it points to the growing impact of community awareness. As Maestas noted in his year-end report, “My initial thought is that the messaging Flathead County put out this year is making a difference. Ultimately, load security will save the county taxpayer, and there was significantly less debris and litter to clean up this year.”
The program, funded by Flathead County Solid Waste with an annual budget of $50,000, will roll into spring with approximately half of that remaining—ready to relaunch in late April or early May, depending on the thaw.
This year’s results underscore an important takeaway: prevention through education works. Securing your load, tying down tarps, and keeping debris off the highway doesn’t just protect Montana’s landscape—it saves taxpayer dollars and keeps our roads safer.
Let’s keep the momentum going. Every clean mile counts.